2023 Arbor Cosa Nostra Rocker

With more of a surfy style than most, the Arbor Cosa Nostra is a directional floater that loves to be found in fresh powder and in big mountains. Built with a higher quality and sense of precision versus many bords out there, this one loves to be utilized in the deepest snows on the planet. It’s got a very traditional and rounded shape to it that allows for a similar style of riding. Constructed with Arbor’s Double Barrell core and Eucalyptus Powerply, the Cosa Nostra has a playful and surfy style to it. The .8 cm taper shape makes it smooth and silky through the powder, and that’s just how Costa Nostra riders like it. Adding snap and pop to the mix is Arbor’s Mixed Glassing laminate. By altering the directions of the fiberglass layers, it makes for a stiffer and more energetic flex. Arbor calls it a 7 out of 10, so for a powder-specific ride, that’s on the stiffer side for sure. If you’re an advanced rider who knows how to use that power in the powder, this is a board worth a second and third look for sure. While our testers weren’t able to get it on a deep powder day, the soft spring snow is a great second-choice when it comes to proving the playful and surfy capabilities of the Cosa Nostra Rocker.

John Gernt rode the 159, and noted that it sure felt like a 159, and he’d likely be happier riding a shorter board. His top mark was a 5 out of 5 for flotation, with 4’s given for overall impression and stability. Versatility, playfulness, and forgiveness were all 2’s, and that’s likely due to the stiffer flex and longer length that he was on. JG states that “This board feels really light for a 159 and has a nice even flex to it. Long nose length is ideal for new snow, deep snow days, yet still can be ridden when not. In softer snow I could push the nose in and power through and exit with speed. Dig the shape, the look the feel of it.” That’s some nice feedback there, and the highlight of the Cosa Nostra having that longer nose and stronger tail is great to hear.

Jarrod Ogden notes that the 159 he was on felt just right, scoring it 5’s out of 5 for quickness and maneuverability. Playfulness and forgiveness each got 4’s and that’s in nice contrast to JG’s scores, showing that the size of board, and rider, do have a lot to do with the impression of the ride. All other scores were 3’s from Jarrod, so we’re dealing with a pretty high average here, and that bodes well for the well-rounded and high-performance nature of the Cosa Nostra Rocker. Jarrod notes that “This is a soft surfy fun board for an intermediate looking to up their riding game.” The surfiness sticks out to me, as that aligns well with both the manufacturer’s hope and the tester’s experience. Tim Sulin was also on the 159 and felt it was just right for him. He gave top scores of 5 out of 5 for flotation and stability, with 4’s for overall impression, versatility, playfulness, and forgiveness right behind. Like Jarrod, we close out the scorecard with 3’s, putting the Cosa Nostra in high regard from a scoring perspective. Tim Sulin states that “This board was fun in the afternoon corn, playfull surfy, and a decent carver in soft snow. Intermediate to advanced rider, a dad’s board for riding with the family.” While sometimes the “dad board” can have negative connotations, it seems like Tim is highlighting that as a benefit for sure.

Arbor’s Cosa Nostra Rocker is a smooth-sailing board that loves the softer snow, but doesn’t balk when the conditions get tough. The rounded shape mirrors the type of turn that this board makes, allowing riders to access all of the fun and playfulness. It’s on the stiffer side for a board that’s more powder focused, but that can be a good thing for riders who love to mix up their style to match with snow conditions and terrain.